Writing Cohesively and Achieving Flow

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Readers need to follow the connection between your ideas. Cohesive devices help explain
and connect those complex ideas in your writing. Use cohesive devices to add information,
present opposing ideas, and come to conclusions.

List of cohesive devices:

time
Before, meanwhile, later, soon, at last, earlier, thereafter, afterward, by that time, from then
on, first, second, third, next, now, presently, shortly, immediately, finally, at this time,
thereafter, formerly, previously, at this point, during, before, after
to compare
Likewise, similarly, once again, once more, like, likewise, by comparison, similar to
to contrast
But, yet, however, although, whereas, though, even so, nonetheless, still, on the other hand,
on the contrary, besides, conversely, in contrast, instead, nevertheless, regardless, whereas,
while, yet, although, despite, unlike
to conclude
As a result, consequently, therefore, hence, for this reason, in summary, in other words, on
the whole, thus, in conclusion, hence, ultimately, finally
to add
Again, also, and, and then, besides, equally, further(more), in addition (to...), indeed, next, in
fact, moreover, too, what is more, finally, additionally, further
to contradict
However, whereas, while, still, alternatively, nevertheless, on the other hand, instead, inspite
of, in contrast, even though
to give an example
For example, for instance, to illustrate, such as, specifically, to demonstrate

Examples:

Early empires had many common characteristics. For example, many empires promoted
themselves as holding greater size and power than the historical reality.

Langston Hughes writes about loss and the pursuit of dreams in his poem “Dream Deferred.”
As a result, his poem has become a memorable and inspirational text to many who have read
it.

Even though the study found a minimal increase in participants’ vascular tone and insulin
sensitivity, a 40% increase in cholesterol levels is more detrimental than this small benefit.
Similarly, another study found a 30% increase in cholesterol levels for 200 participants aged
40 to 55 who ate two dark chocolate bars in a week, and an even more incremental increase
in vascular tone and insulin sensitivity (Mahad 2014).

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Some scholars have noted that there is a strong relationship between gender and the nation.
However, other scholars have found that the strength of this relationship depends on the
cultural context of each nation.

Use Cohesive Devices:

• as a bridge between two ideas

• as signposts to signal what’s coming up
• to avoid abrupt stops between ideas

Industrialisation in England shifted ideas about gender roles in three ways. First, the creation
of mass production caused a separation between home and work that did not exist before.
Second, … Third, …
Here, the writer is forecasting what is coming up in her paper, creating signposts for the
reader.

Achieving Flow

 Use the old before new rule to achieve flow in your writing. Put ‘old’ information in
the beginning of your sentence, and ‘new’ information at the end.
 Begin sentences with information familiar to your reader.
 To you, everything is familiar, since you have worked out your ideas on the topic. Try
to begin sentences with only information that is familiar to your reader.

Which sounds better?:

1. Ann conducted a research study in the social sciences. In Dubai, she interviewed twenty
people.
2. Ann conducted a research study in the social sciences. As part of her study, she
interviewed twenty people in Dubai.

The second example has ‘flow’ because it follows the old before new rule. In the first
sentence, we learn about Ann’s study. Once your reader reads this sentence, the information
it contains becomes ‘old.’ So, the sentence that follows it must carry on with that ‘old’
information about her study. Our number two example does just that. In the beginning of the
second sentence, we receive the ‘old’ information about Ann’s study. The second half of the
sentence, ‘she interviewed twenty people in Dubai,’ becomes our new information.

The first example doesn’t achieve flow because it doesn’t follow the old before new rule. The
first half of the second sentence, “In Dubai,” doesn’t provide the reader with any of the old
information about Ann’s study. In fact, mentioning Dubai is new information, and it makes
the reader wonder: why did she go to Dubai? It asks the reader to make connections for the

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writer, rather than the other way around. As the writer, you want to make all the connections
for the reader.

Ann conducted a research study in the social sciences (old). As part of her study, she
interviewed twenty people in Dubai (new).

Ann conducted a research study in the social sciences. As part of her study, she interviewed
twenty people in Dubai. While interviewing participants, she asked them questions about
their national identity. The interviewees answered that they felt pride in their national
language of Arabic.

Keep using the old before new rule to create flow in your writing.

Here are a few more examples:

Globalisation is made up of flows of information, technology, capital, culture and people.

These flows have no single destination, but instead include processes that are uneven and
complex.

The Industrial age in England brought about many changes to work and family life. The
effects of this time period helped to create the gender relations we recognise today.

Use synonyms to avoid repetition.

Pronouns: Your Friend and Enemy

 Sometimes, the pronoun and what it refers to is clear, and this helps you avoid
repetition in your writing.
 Other times, the reference is unclear, because there are too many nouns to choose
from.
 Try to avoid beginning sentences with the word “It.” “It” is the most vague of the
pronouns, and can refer to nearly anything at all.
 More often, use a concrete noun (such as ‘empire’, ‘the author,’ or ‘industry,’ instead
of ‘it’) to improve clarity.
 A pronoun, like ‘it’ or ‘this’ cannot just refer to the entire previous sentence.
Pronouns like ‘it’ or ‘this’ only refer to one particular noun. Make sure the noun it
refers to is clear, or restate the noun.

Example:

In 18th century England, the idea of the companionate marriage began. As a result, authors
wrote about marriage in new ways. It helped to establish relationships based on mutual
feelings. But it wasn’t a cure for unhappy relationships. It created other problems too.

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In 18th century England, the idea of the companionate marriage began. As a result, authors
wrote about marriage in new ways. This new style of marriage helped to establish
relationships based on mutual feelings. But these unions weren’t a cure for unhappy
relationships. Companionate marriages created other problems too.

Keep clarifying your meaning in new ways, rather than repeating ‘It.’